Feeding Frenzy Flying Ants
After a few days of consistent rainfall, after warm weather it's time for flying ants to swarm. It's the season of love, nuptial flight of the termites, taking to the skies out our clay soil. Those with wings hope to mate, start new colonies, wingless workers on the ground easy pickings for the birds around.
Tasty morsels of natural mineral supplements, wriggly fresh rising up underfoot, Neli wants birds with food, I refer more to a feeding frenzy with much happening on the ground or on wing, little argy-bargy going on while certain birds claim the ground to be their turf alone!
Violet-backed Starling (Cinnyricinclusleucogaster) Male above, Female below
One could literally see the ants tumbling out the clay soil now saturated, fastest/strongest ants will mate with the females taking flight then find new sites to set up a colony, males die after mating apparently either way this is party time for the birds.
Violet-backed Starling (Cinnyricinclusleucogaster) male starting into breeding colours or is simply that wet the brilliant plum or amethyst shimmering is dulled with patches showing through. Female appearance is totally different, they too squabbled on the ground a couple of times over best ants to consume.
Feasting Fiesta, Full party which I will attempt at identity with coming and going along the clay bank...
Cape starling (Lamprotornis nitens) medium-sized iridescent blue-green glossy starling that lacks dark ear-patches and has greenish flanks and belly, giving it a more uniform appearance.
I think this to be the Male Brimstone Canary (Crithagra sulphurata) looking on from the plant above....
Another look.... coast is not yet cleared!
Fork-tailed drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis) joined in the party as well, once again chase was on they did not stop on the ground before being chased by another bird waiting in line.
Weaver bird taking a look around, is the coast clear yet?
Perched directly above timing had to be right for smaller birds to snatch a snack.
Party time little guys...
Hurry and scurry to grab a few before the bigger birds come back, bullies!
Even the Indian mynah (Acridotheres tristis) one of our top 100 invasive species introduced from Asia to our region in around 1900.
With constant rains over three days the flying ants decided time was right to make a move, everyone in town arrived to enjoy the feast, the swallows arrived in large numbers picking off in mid-flight which is fast and furious.
I was surprised no Yellow-billed kites arrived perhaps they have sufficient road kill, frogs and snakes at this time of year, not bothered with tiny flying ants this time, around although they do love to make a grand entrance from time to time, not this time.
Feeding frenzy will happen again going into December with a couple of termite mounds in our immediate vacinity, some days ants take to the air early afternoon on other occasions late afternoon/early evening forcing us to close doors, make sure outdoor lights are off which attracts ants into the home.
Back to a sweltering hot day today, a promise of rain over the weekend once again, who knows what tomorrow will bring around the garden with our feathered friends.
Thanks for visiting birds Food In Beak in feathered friends photography, entry to #SMAP No. 96 Contest with host 
@nelinoeva FOOD IN THE BEAK
Feathered Friends Community gratitude to 
All photography is my own. Any queries or requests please drop a comment below or make contact with me, have a wonderful day! Photography without tripod, go with the flow wherever life takes you. NB: Amateur photographer and bird watcher, keep smiling!
Thought for Today: "The sweet flying ants will never be birds." - African Proverb
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